Man can sue San Carlos officers over home

COURTS

The U.S. Supreme Court refused Monday to block a Bay Area man's suit against police who entered his home with guns drawn after they were told he had been in a traffic accident and may have been drinking.

Two San Carlos police officers defended their entry into Bruce Hopkins' home by claiming they feared he was in a diabetic coma and needed help. But a federal appeals court said a jury could conclude that no reasonable officer would have believed it was necessary to break into Hopkins' home and rescue him at gunpoint.

The ruling in July by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco allows Hopkins to go to trial in his suit against San Carlos and the two officers. The Supreme Court denied review of the case Monday without comment.

13th murder attributed to East Area Rapist/Golden State Killer suspect Joseph DeAngeloMedia: Tulare County District Attorney's Office

Lost in the FireMedia: Guy Wathen

Alameda County Fire Department video of a small plane that landed on the highway in HaywardMedia: Alameda County Fire Department

Food truck robbery in Los AngelesMedia: San Francisco Chronicle

CHP gives update on death of Officer Kirk GriessMedia: CHP Solano

The greatest moments in Bay Area sports historyMedia: Drew Costley/SFGATE

The case arose from Hopkins' August 2003 traffic accident in the San Mateo County community. Both drivers got out, looked at their cars, found no damage and left, the appeals court said. But the court said the other driver followed Hopkins home, confronted him there and then called police and said she had smelled alcohol on his breath.

Two officers went to the home, knocked and announced their presence but got no response. One then cut a hole in the screen door, and they arrested Hopkins in his bedroom at gunpoint and brought him outside in handcuffs.

A Superior Court judge dismissed charges against Hopkins, finding that police had entered his home illegally. He then sued for damages.

In seeking dismissal of the suit, the officers said they had learned in police training that someone in the early stages of a diabetic emergency might seem, to an untrained observer, to have liquor on his breath. They also argued that they were entitled to enter the home to seek evidence of possible drunken driving.

But the appeals court said the officers took no steps to learn whether Hopkins needed medical help, such as telephoning him or asking the other driver whether Hopkins showed any signs of distress.

Hopkins' lawyer, Anthony Boskovich, said his client, who now lives in West Virginia, lost his job after the arrest.

A lawyer for San Carlos and the officers did not return telephone calls seeking comment.